J Emerg Med
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Splenic rupture or infarction can occur secondary to acute infectious mononucleosis. Patients with abdominal pain and known or suspected infectious mononucleosis mandate evaluation for these complications, which can have significant morbidity or mortality. ⋯ Emergency ultrasound of the spleen can allow rapid diagnosis of splenic infarction and exclusion of splenic rupture in a patient at risk for splenic pathology.
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Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) occurs in the setting of an acute neurological insult and in the absence of a primary cardiopulmonary cause. No unifying theory on NPE pathogenesis exists. NPE triggered by a discrete neurological lesion is rare, but such cases offer valuable insight into NPE pathogenesis. ⋯ Life-threatening pulmonary edema can complicate medullary demyelination. Lack of awareness of this diagnostic possibility and an asymmetrical pulmonary infiltrate culminated in diagnostic delay in this case. The case provides clinico-radiological evidence of the pathogenic link between medullary lesions and NPE. The pathogenesis is likely to rely on lesion involvement of the nucleus tractus solitarius or its immediate pathways. Non-uniform vasoconstriction of the pulmonary arterial bed might account for the other peculiarity of this case: the asymmetrical pulmonary infiltrate. Timely diagnosis of NPE is essential because the condition is best managed by nullifying the "neurogenic" trigger.
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Interest in international emergency medicine (IEM) is growing. With the globalization of medicine, IEM as a field has expanded from disaster relief efforts to opportunities for resident education. Numerous accounts have been published voicing the educational benefits of international rotations (IRs). As such, many residencies now offer opportunity for IRs. ⋯ More residents participated in IRs when a pre-designated site was available compared to programs without. This suggests that programs interested in supporting IRs consider developing pre-designated sites to accommodate residents.
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Pneumocephalus is a rare cause of altered mental status in patients presenting to the Emergency Department. Occurring as a result of traumatic or iatrogenic violation of the dura, it can cause significant morbidity and mortality if tension physiology develops whereby air continues to accumulate with no mechanism for escape. ⋯ This case illustrates the importance of considering tension pneumocephalus on the differential diagnosis for any patient presenting with altered mental status after surgical or diagnostic procedures with potential to violate the dural space.